Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Our Family’s Tutor is Very Strict

"Hah! So you knew about this all along? I didn’t want to worry you, so I thought I’d wait until you were back from Kyoto to tell you. But now he’s been arrested, serves him right, he won’t be able to disgust people anymore." After all, what’s done is done, one must look forward. Tong Yao didn’t want to be engulfed in a somber mood.

She wouldn’t let a scum like Jia Qing affect her life going forward. Telling Si Chen about what happened was simply to unload the grievances and fears that had been accumulating in her heart. Once spoken out loud, she felt relieved.

There was no need to torment oneself over it.

"Mm." Si Chen nodded slightly, his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

Tong Yao, on the other hand, prattled on, "There’s something else you might not know. I recently found out that Boyi and Lijuan are together. Last time my mom visited, she praised Lijuan both openly and covertly, saying that she had been taking care of her lately. I think she also knows about Lijuan and Boyi being together."

After saying that, Tong Yao blinked her big eyes and looked at Si Chen. It was obvious to her that Zhang Lijuan liked Si Chen. If Si Chen claimed he hadn’t noticed, she wouldn’t believe it. What she wanted to know was his take on the matter.

Though who Si Boyi marries isn’t really her business, the fact that her sister-in-law once had feelings for her husband made things feel awkward. Especially when she still didn’t know the purpose of Zhang Lijuan being with Si Boyi. If they were mutually attracted, then it was fine.

But if Zhang Lijuan was with Si Boyi just to get closer to Si Chen, then that would be troubling. She didn’t want an additional rival appearing at their annual reunion dinners.

Si Chen pondered for a moment and said, "I’ll talk to Boyi about this, see what he thinks."

"You’re deliberately avoiding the topic," Tong Yao said, unsatisfied with Si Chen’s answer. She tilted her head and stared at him, "Don’t tell me you didn’t know that Zhang Lijuan liked you. I had figured it out, I don’t believe you were oblivious to it."

Seeing her pouting in dissatisfaction, Si Chen laughed lightly, brushed her fringe away from her forehead, and didn’t dodge the topic. He said straightforwardly, "Regardless of what she had in mind for me in the past, I never had anything for her. Also, these matters haven’t been opened up. Even if she is really with Boyi, we’ll be in Kyoto and they’ll be in Li City, hardly seeing each other in a year. So there’s no need to fuss."

If Zhang Lijuan hadn’t gotten together with Si Boyi, Si Chen wouldn’t have given her a second thought. To him, Zhang Lijuan was no more than a fellow villager and couldn’t even be considered as his sister.

He wasn’t very supportive of Si Boyi being with Zhang Lijuan, but if Si Boyi was adamant, he wouldn’t strongly oppose either. As far as marriage was concerned, he had no objections as long as Si Boyi was sure and wouldn’t regret it.

Tong Yao pouted and said, "That makes sense. But if they do get together, don’t play favorites with your sister-in-law and bully your wife. If you do, I won’t let it slide."

"Our family seems to have strict rules for the future," Si Chen said, teasing a little. Tong Yao blushed and stubbornly held her chin high in defiance.

"Brother, sister-in-law, dinner’s ready."

Si Xiaohui’s voice came from outside.

The siblings had prepared the meals and served them on the dining table. Since Si Chen hadn’t been home for a while, Si Boyi thought he needed to replenish his energy, so he made a Spicy Chicken dish on purpose. He also bought a big fish and made Sour Fish Soup.

When Tong Yao and Si Chen came out, Si Boyi immediately gestured them to sit and eat. This was the first time the four of them had dinner together since Si Boyi came to the city, which made Si Boyi very happy. He thought if their mother was here too, the whole family would be united.

As they were chatting while eating, Si Chen suddenly turned the topic to Si Boyi’s marriage, "Boyi, you’re not getting any younger. Our family has been introducing potential partners to you, take some time to meet them. If you find someone suitable, bring her over to meet us."

Si Boyi gave a vague reply, not daring to meet Si Chen’s gaze. Si Xiaohui intervened, "People disdain us for being poor and are reluctant to marry our second brother. I think second brother should save up some money and build a house first!"

There were plenty of 25 or 26-year-old unmarried men in the countryside, and their second brother was only in his early twenties, there was no rush to marry. After saving money for a couple of years, their life would be better and Boyi would be able to pick his own bride, right?

Without money, they could only be picked by others. This was a reality that Si Xiaohui understood very well.

Si Boyi quickly agreed, his face flushed, "Yes, let’s save money and build the house first!" Only after the house was built would Chen Jinlan not oppose Zhang Lijuan being with him. But he didn’t know how to bring this up with his big brother.

Zhang Lijuan liked his big brother, and everyone in their family knew about it. Now that he was seeing Zhang Lijuan, he felt a bit awkward.

Seeing Si Boyi not mentioning Zhang Lijuan’s matter, Tong Yao deliberately said, "There’s a nice young girl I know. Boyi, you could meet up with her when you’re free."

"Sister-in-law, I..."

Si Boyi wanted to say something but hesitated, not knowing how to continue.

He wasn’t good at lying or speaking fluently. Especially under pressure, he would be even worse at talking. He didn’t know how to respond to Tong Yao’s proposal, turning red and blushing. Even Si Xiaohui noticed something was off.

"Second Brother, it’s a good thing that sister-in-law wants to introduce you to someone. Why are you blushing?"

"I..." Si Boyi opened his mouth. He was already seeing Zhang Lijuan, so how could he go on a blind date?

But he couldn’t just refuse sister-in-law’s good intentions.

Seeing him struggling and blushing, Si Chen frowned, "Just say what’s on your mind! There are no outsiders here."

At Si Chen’s words, Si Boyi, already feeling guilty, felt even more cornered. His face turned redder than a monkey’s butt. After a long while, he finally plucked up the courage and said, "Big brother, sister-in-law, actually...actually I am dating Lijuan."

As soon as the words came out, he instantly felt a lot lighter and no longer suffocated.

Ever since he started dating Zhang Lijuan, he had felt awkward about bringing it up, not knowing how to face his big brother. But he also knew, sooner or later, he would have to face it.

Now that it had come to this, he might as well admit it, but he didn’t know what his big brother thought.

Thinking this, Si Boyi looked up at Si Chen and saw his calm and unsurprised face. He was slightly bewildered and felt like his big brother already knew.

"Second Brother, what did you just say? You’re dating Lijuan?" Si Xiaohui looked at Si Boyi in shock, doubting if she had heard correctly.

She was the last one to know that two people so close to her had become a couple, which was rather absurd.

Plus, wasn’t Lijuan fond of big brother?

How did she end up with second brother?